“Meet you downstairs?” Ezra called through the door.
“Be there in a second,” Roz called out.
Three days had passed, and the earth resembled a full-grown petal party. Not only had the roses returned, but the trees developed fruit, which hadn't happened in decades either. Roz loved every second of it, but she couldn’t figure out if this was the end of the curse or a death sentence for the whole kingdom.
Smoothing down her hair, she looked in the mirror. Single braid, eyes still dark brown, and pants much more comfortable than her usual slacks, Roz hoped she looked nice.
“Why am I even thinking about this?” She groaned. “I need to focus on remembering what happened the night I was left here.”
Smiling, she turned to the door and rushed to check the hallway. No one was in sight, and it didn’t sound as if the beast had returned to his room. She walked across and knocked. When there was no response, she opened the door and stuck her head inside.
“Ezra?” she called.
Hearing no sound, she came inside and shut the door. The mirror was standing there reflecting the chair. It looked normal, but she knew it would help her find out what she needed.
“Mirror, show me my father,” she commanded.
Ripples blurred the room reflection, and a field with her father standing in the middle of it came into view. The dirt was filled with green plants. They spread across the entire expanse, and she could hear their excited voices.
“Everything’s coming up! I don’t know what’s going on, but it feels as if the curse has lifted,” her father was saying.
“It’s wonderful, Winston. I didn’t know the sun could be so bright,” Elvin agreed. “Did you hear about Aurora though?”
“Aurora?” her father asked.
“Yes, she has the sickness.”
“No! I thought it was going to end now that everything else has been getting better.”
“It hasn’t. She started talking to herself last night and then attacked her brother. They had to hold her down until they could sedate her and take her to the hospital.”
“That’s awful, Elvin. What is that now? The twentieth person?”
Elvin shrugged.
Roz watched and listened to what they were saying. A rock in the pit of her stomach moved from side to side making her feel nauseous.
The sickness hadn’t come to an end. People were still getting it. She was wasting time here, and her brother could be next.
“Show me Leuthar,” she told the mirror.
It showed the outside of her house. She knew it wouldn’t show the inside. At least he was inside, safe and sound. If he wasn’t around people, she could relax.
“It’s not as if he does have the sickness. I could have imagined everything. He could just be strange.”
The mirror rippled again, and she saw their backyard. Leuthar was walking back and forth across the porch before he went inside and slammed the door. Startled, Roz kept watching. He opened the door again and came back out onto the porch.
She didn’t know what was going on, but he seemed very agitated. Turning, he stomped back into the house but didn’t shut the door. When he came back to the door and passed through, he hit his hand on a post.
Jerking backward, Roz’s mouth dropped open. He looked around the yard, and for a second, her brother’s eyes seemed to find hers. Somehow, he was staring into space, but his sight pierced her through the mirror.
“I’m starting to think weird thoughts,” she muttered.
He continued to space before turning on his heel and heading back toward the door.
“Leuthar,” she whispered, knowing something was wrong.
Her brother gave a slight turn with his hand on the door. Looking over his shoulder, he reentered the house, and the door crashed closed again. As it did, Roz saw a flash before her.
There, in this very room, was Leuthar. He was shoving her backward and heading to the door. Her last view of him was a sneer as he slammed the door on her.
“Oh my gosh,” she whispered.
Eye sight blurring and black stars skidding across her sight, Roz brought a hand to her chest and sucked in breath after breath. She kept seeing it repeatedly.
He’d shoved her back, yelling at her, and he’d left her. He’d left her here, by herself. Leuthar hurt her. He’d intentionally hurt her.
Her whole body slumped. Her shoulders fell forward, and her hands dropped to her sides. She hadn’t realized they’d come up to cover her mouth until they fell.
“I have to go home,” she whispered. “I have to fix this.”
Rushing out of the room, she ran down three flights of stairs and out the front door. She didn’t stop to tell Ezra she was leaving. Fear pounding in her heart, Roz didn’t stop running until she approached the front gate.
Stopping with her hand on the gate, Roz took a last look at the castle. Some part of her didn’t want to leave, but she knew she couldn’t go back inside.
“Goodbye, Ezra,” she whispered.
Taking a deep breath, she picked up pace again and began running home.
24
“Is Roz on her way downstairs?” Ezra asked Buford when he returned to the dining room.
“I’m not sure, sir. Would you like me to go upstairs and check?”
“No, I’ll go. She doesn’t like cold pancakes. I’ll return in a few minutes.”
“Mrs. Hausmeister will put a hold on the pancakes.”
“Thank you,” he said over his shoulder as he left the room.
Heading up three flights, he waited until he reached the last step before calling out, “Roz? Are you coming down to breakfast? Mrs. Hausmeister is making pancakes.”
He knocked on Roz's door. When she didn't answer, he called her name again. When she didn’t answer, he opened the door and stepped inside.
“Roz? Roz!” he shouted.
Heading to the bathroom door, he hesitated. “Roz? Are you in the bathroom?”
She wasn't there either.
He rushed to the door and across the hall. Entering his room, he made a one-eighty, taking in the whole room. She wasn’t there.
The flowers she’d been placing in vases all over the castle were still there. Seeing them reminded him of how close to the end they were.
“Roz?”
Finding her absence frightening, panic spiraled through him.
She’s left.
Bursting into the kitchen, he found the servants talking in whispers amongst themselves. They stopped when their eyes rested on him, and Buford stepped forward. “I’m afraid Miss Roz has left the castle, sir.”
“Why didn't you tell me?” he roared at them.
Everyone but Buford took a step backward.
“Because I was just told. Hank saw her dash through the front gates and rushed up to let me know.”
“Get me my coat and boots. I have to leave at once!”
“But, sir, you can't go after her,” Buford argued.
Turning and beseeching Buford with his eyes, he said, “If she gets home, the spell will be broken, and her brother will kill her.”
Buford's wrinkled lids widened in surprise. Nodding, he left the room in a hurry. The others only stood with shocked expressions in his wake, and Beast nodded to them before sprinting from the room.
Minutes later, he rushed down the hill, knowing where she was headed. Soon, he was on the edge of Roz's world. He hesitated.
He didn't know if he could do this. They might see him. He could use the invisibility spell but was uncertain it would work outside the walls of his castle. Closing his eyes, he pulled the dress jacket around his body and lifted the collar.
It had to be done.
He sprinted the rest of the way to Roz's home. His fingers reached out to touch the knob, and a crash came from inside. He entered the unlocked door. Roz's arm was held in her brother's left hand while his right was flinging a knife wildly in the air.
This family has a fetish with kitchen knives, Beast thoug
ht as he released a spell that had Leuthar drop the knife. Leuthar lurched back at the sudden jolt coursing through his body, and both spotted Beast.
“Beast,” his only spoken word.
Then he looked at Roz with more hatred than anyone should ever feel. “You failed to kill that monster! I knew you weren't to be trussss-ted. The voices have told me all along. We knew you were going to betray ussss.”
He screamed with spittle dripping down his chin and spraying the air between them. He no longer resembled the brother she had known all her life. This man was a stranger, and he terrified her.
“Leuthar, what is wrong with you? What voices? This isn't my fault!” came Roz's shocked reply.
She knew what he meant by the voices, but she hoped he’d deny what she was thinking. However, it was too late. Roz realized he had the sickness, and there wasn’t anything she could do about it. He was lost.
“You’re the enemy. They told me you were. They said you would try to make me doubt myself. You would become strong and try to force me to do your will. I won't!”
“I’m not trying to force you into anything, Leuthar. Please come with me to the hospital. I just need to make sure you’re okay.”
“I won't do what you ask! I am stronger than you!”
“Leuthar, please? I just want to make sure you’re feeling fine.” Roz's eyes were wide, shaking her head back and forth. She didn't understand a word he was saying.
Eyes darting back and forth, Leuthar shook his head and lifted his hands to cradle his head. “No! No, no, no! We can't let her get away with it. She caused this curse. Roz is to blame.”
Roz took a step, then three, backward. Her head shook as she listened to the different voices coming from her brother's mouth for the first time. She looked at Ezra and tried to slide around a chair.
“You’ve killed us all,” Leuthar's voice held a faraway tone.
Without warning, he turned and flung himself in Roz's direction.
“YOU!” he screamed with wild, unfocused eyes.
He reached across the space and shoved her into a bookshelf with a shove. Roz hit the shelf with tremendous force and ended up on the floor. Beast again used a quick spell to control Leuthar.
“Please, Leuthar, this isn't you. Let me help you!” Roz pleaded.
“Get away from him, Roz! Your brother isn’t going to listen to you.”
“No! I can make him understand! Please don't hurt him!”
Beast shook his head as if he couldn't believe what she was saying. “You know I won't hurt him, Roz, but I will keep him away from you.”
Slowly, Roz stood and made her way to the beast’s side.
“Leuthar, this isn't you.”
“You are no sister of mine,” Leuthar scorned. His eyes were pitch black, wide, and darted back and forth across the room as if he couldn't keep them still.
“He acts as if he's two people,” Roz whispered. “It’s the sickness.”
Beast saw the tears gather in Roz's eyes and gently pushed her closer to the front door. He saw what she meant. This was his fault. Everything was his fault.
Leuthar squeezed his hands together and fisted them by his sides. Spit dribbled down the side of his mouth. His stance wobbled, and he muttered to himself.
“She’s evil. We must kill Roz. She will end the spell. She will end the spell.”
“What's he talking about?” Roz looked at Beast and back at her brother with a frown.
“You are no worthy brother.” Beast stared him in the eye and let go of the spell he had cast.
Leuthar slumped forward but caught his balance, stayed on his feet, and shouted, “You’re a monster. She should have killed you!”
“Perhaps,” Beast nodded but kept his gaze locked on Leuthar. “However, your sister has more compassion than others and for that, I am in her debt.”
“Well, I have no such compulsions. She is the cause of the curse.” The glazed look in his eyes gave him a robotic gaze.
Roz couldn’t understand this transformation of her brother. It was worse than she’d thought. As she tried to talk to him in a calm voice and let him know he was wrong, Leuthar's right eye began to tic.
How had this change escaped her father?
“Lies! Lies!” He shook his head back and forth as if he couldn't stop.
“Please, Leuthar,” Roz pleaded. “Let’s go to the hospital. Everything will be better.”
Head squeezed between both of his hands, Leuthar pounded his hands against his ears. “Stop! Stop! Stop!”
“This is ridiculous, Leuthar! I’m your sister, and we have to go to the hospital.”
“The voices know. The voices know.” He stalked back and forth in front of them. His hands beating against his head.
Beast watched and wondered what to do next. The boy had lost his mind. Something else was speaking for him. Or someone else. It was clear he wasn't himself.
This was too much to watch. He was responsible for it. The curse was his fault, and he;d lied to Roz. He’d told her he didn’t know how to break it, and he did. He had to help her fix this.
“Leuthar, your sister isn't at fault. I am. Please tell us what we can do to help you.” Beast tried to use his calmest voice.
He didn't want to hurt the boy. Beyond spells to keep him at bay, he didn't know how they could help him.
“Weee mu-ssst do it,” his voice hissed.
His wanderings led to the dresser behind him.
“What do we do, Roz?” Ezra held up a hand.
“Leuthar?” Alarmed, Roz's voice rose.
The sound had her brother jerking his arms to and fro, muttering before he reached inside.
“No!” Roz shouted, causing Beast to take his eyes off Leuthar for one second, and turn her way.
He saw her jumping around the chair in Leuthar's direction. Reaching out to grab her, Beast realized his mistake. He’d was too late.
A gun appeared in Leuthar's hand, he aimed and fired before Ezra could stop him.
Throwing his body in front of Roz, a sudden thought spiraled through Beast's mind: This is my sacrifice.
“Ezra!” Roz shouted.
Leuthar took aim again, and Beast now had time to do the one thing he should have done from the beginning. He reached out and manipulated a spell to erase Leuthar's memory of Roz's perceived blame and replaced it with his own guilt.
Leuthar's hands came up to cradle his head again. The boy started to shake and cry as the gun clattered to the ground.
“We didn't mean it,” he whispered over and over again.
Feeling an affinity for Leuthar, Beast looked at Roz and whispered into her shocked gaze, “He will remember nothing except that I am to blame for all of this. He won't know you had anything to do with me being here now. You were right about the sickness.”
Looking down, he focused on the blood streaming from his chest and stomach. There were no spells which could prevent his death or bring him back to life. Those rules were beyond him.
“I’m sorry I didn’t help before it got so bad. The spell I’ve cast will keep him sedated until you can get him to the hospital.”
Roz shook her head as a tear fell. “Ezra, you shouldn’t have done this.”
His energy left him as he slumped to the floor. Roz crashed to her knees by his side, picked his head up, and placed it on her lap. Shuddering, he stared up into Roz's ebony gaze. More tears fell down her cheeks and onto his face.
“Thank you,” he whispered, “for teaching me what it meant to be unselfish.”
“I didn't do anything,” she whispered back.
“Yes, you did. I love you, Roz.”
His last words almost weren't heard. Almost.
The burn spread through his body and set his insides ablaze. He curled inward to cover the pain. Roz spoke to him, but he couldn't hear her words. Everything fogged and swirled around him.
No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't tell her he was sorry for the pain he'd caused her and her family or warn her to st
ep away from him. He couldn't hear or see her anymore. He prayed Leuthar hadn't snapped out of the spell and hurt her. Not knowing added to the pain.
He was getting what he deserved.
His body melted. The flames roasted the inside and outside of him. He couldn't breathe, and the pain became so unbearable he knew it would be seconds before he fainted dead.
Nothing could compare to the agony he felt liquefying his bones. It was just like the last time. Somehow, he knew all the parts which had made him the beast on the outside were leaving him. This gave him a moment's joy, that he would die as himself. He could die with what dignity he had left.
The sacrifice had been made. His selfishness was at an end. All of this he could endure, knowing she would be safe. Roz would be able to live a happy life.
He loved her.
Somehow, this made dying worth every ounce of torture. These were peaceful thoughts amidst the searing pain. He swallowed his screams and allowed the pain to crash over him one last time.
Epilogue
“The troops are here, sire,” the butler held his head high and stood in the doorway talking to his king. “They have armed themselves well and are ready to leave at your command.”
He was standing in front of his mirror on the exact morning of the predestined battle. The same morning which had led to his immortal existence. Yet, he was no longer the dead-looking king of the last 100 years.
The changed beast looked into the mirror that had once been his only source to the outside world. The mirror which had showed his immortal, magical shell of ugliness for so long. Now, he was once more the king.
His burgundy hair tucked behind his ears ready for the helmet he would put over it to protect his head. His blue-green eyes held no trace of red or gold within them. The body armor he had worn that day still covered him, shielding him from head to toe. A body vest made of the sturdiest laminated fibers, which felt like a second skin upon his tall muscular body, still clothed him. It would protect him from every form of combat, including fire.
Now, he knew it would do no such thing. At least, not the type of fire the witch queen could force upon him.
The Four Tales Page 42
